Domaine Vincey
This Article Contains |
People |
Quentin & Marine Vinecey
Focus |
Healthy soils, healthy vines, clean, exemplary fruit, old-school winemaking, all by hand and expertly conceived. For those who like Burgundy with bubbles.
Country |
France
(By Archimatth - File:Vignobles_France.svg, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37093378)
Region |
Champagne
Sub-Region |
Côte de Blancs
Village |
- Oger, Grand Cru
- Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Grand Cru
- Avize, Grand Cru
- Vertus, 1er Cru
Vineyards |
8 hectares
Climate |
Cold Continental
- This was the northern edge of viticulture until recent decades
- 2nd most northern grape growing region in France, after Alsace, but much less sunshine and more rain.
- Harsh cold winters, short hot summers
- Rain in summer, snow in winter
- Very wet climate, although drought has been an issue in recent vintages because of climate change
- Viticulture is possible because of long, (hopefully) dry, temperate autumns to extend the growing season.
- Because ripeness was a struggle, grapes are usually grown for white wine, or in the last 150 years, sparkling wines.
- Variations between his sites are due to aspect, elevation and proximity to water, like the Marne river.
- Cool climate red varieties Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier dominate, but the vast majority are destined for white or rosé sparkling wines.
- Wines are going to be high in acidity, light in body, low in alcohol, and often need extended aging of 18 months or more to temper the high acidity.
- Sugar is often added to wines at the end, called dosage, to help balance the high acidities from cold climate grapes.
Grape Varieties |
Chardonnay, 100%- Adds finesse and freshness
- Often a signature lemon meringue pie flavor profile.
- If handled reductively, can impart white flower, ginger, green apple, quince and other primary flavors
- Oxidative or aged examples can be full of brioche, kernel, honey and truffle
- Does best in east facing sites with little to no top soil on chalk and other limestones
Farming |
Certified Organic & Biodynamic
- Mostly old vines
- Mostly selection massale rather than clones
- Focus is on the vineyards
- Demeter Biodynamic certified since 2023
Cellar Work |
Traditional
- Pressing in an old vertical basket press
- Short sedimentation
- Gravity flow to the cellar
- Old, deep, cold cellar
- Natural fermentation with wild yeasts
- Matured in French oak barrique and 500L tonneau
- Each barrels is allowed its own course, some go through malolactic fermentation, some develop flor (the yeast veil found in sherry, Selosse and Chartogne-Taillet)
- Bottled for secondary fermentation in the summer
- Long lees aging
- Hand riddled
- Hand disgorged
About the winery |
A tiny, new-ish, new-school, estate, but one we are already thrilled to be drinking. This husband and wife team have the majority of their vines in Oger, mostly old and with selection massale plantings. They believe soil health and farming take precedence over winemaking, and lucky for us they seem to be right.
Now housed in a 17th century Chateau in Villeneuve-Renneville, 9 minutes from the bulk of their vineyards. Here they prepare most of their biodynamic preparations and take advantage of the deep, cold cellar.
For years they sold off 100% of their grapes, but they started to bottle their own Champagnes in 2014. It was just a few hundred bottles at first; they are slowly increasing production as they find their feet.
We recently tasted through their latest lineup, and they have definitely found their feet. Much more than that. We felt like we were tasting wines that easily belonged in the same echelon as the superstars from the newish Selosse-inspired school (such as Bouchard, Chartogne-Taillet and Ulysse Colin). The techniques are similar: biodynamic farming, natural wine-making, and a focus on terroir. Except here the terroir is mostly Oger, and the grapes are all Chardonnay.
What do the wines taste like?
Old-school, textural, Burgundian-like Chardonnay, thanks to the old barrels and wild yeasts. They have a golden complexity and creamy mouthfeel. Exactly the kind of Champagne you want to sit and think about, but offering immense pleasure as well.
Wines on Offer |
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Oger Grand Cru Extra Brut, 2017 $82.99 $73.03
"This is a selection of old vine parcels in the Oger area that is 100% oak vinified and aged in bottle. Incredibly seductive with rich, exotic and salty notes. There is no reticence here as the first sip is generous yet brilliantly precise with delicate citrus and lightly toasted nuts whispering in the background. There is a beautiful balance between fruit and the tense and bright palate with minerality. This is the type of Champagne that only continues to improve after it has been opened. It takes on a Burgundian quality with pine nuts, exotic fruits, lemon peel and a healthy pinch of salt floating on perfectly chiseled, chalky minerality. Sweet lemon joins in through a concentrated and long finish. A supremely delicious bottle of wine." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Interlude Oger Grand Cru Brut Nature, NV $97.99 $86.23
"A blend of 2019 and 2018 fruit. Made with flor, like at Chartogne-Taillet, and no sulfur, no dosage. As a result, it is less fresh fruity and more cream, structure and complexity." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Interlude Oger Grand Cru Brut Nature, NV $97.99 $86.23
"A blend of 2019 and 2018 fruit. Made with flor, like at Chartogne-Taillet, and no sulfur, no dosage. As a result, it is less fresh fruity and more cream, structure and complexity." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Oger Grand Cru Extra Brut, 2018 $104.99 $92.39
"A great introduction to the domaine as it showcases the terroir of their home village of Oger. 1 gram dosage. This may be the domaine’s “entry level” offering, but it is a great wine in its own right, Apples, pears, peaches and a touch of pastry shop." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Le Grand Jardin Oger Grand Cru Brut Nature, 2015 $112.99 $99.43
"Vincey is certified organic and Demeter certified biodynamic as of 2023. Coming form old vines that were planted in 1969 in a tiny .45ha parcel in the couer de grand cru. The fruit is pretty and round but the chalk soils from Oger Grand Cru truly shine through as a beautful mineraly backbone." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Le Grand Jardin Oger Grand Cru Brut Nature, 2018 $139.99 $123.19
"From a single parcel planted in the heart of Oger 70 years ago. No dosage. A big step up from the previous wines in terms of weight, intensity, and chalky intricacy." -- Flatiron Wines
Domaine Vincey, Champagne Auge Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru Brut Nature, 2018 $139.99 $123.19
"One of two single vineyard offerings from neighboring Mesnil. No dosage. Very pure Mesnil with endless chalkiness at one level, and deliciously fresh fruit at another, finding each other in perfect harmony on the finish." -- Flatiron Wines